Griggs courier., 1887-12-16
"MERRY CHRISTMAS. !"

only pray God he icy viii S make your life f happy
one. knew you did not love me, Lera, but
had hoped to win your love. know now it can
never be.
God bless you. Lera. my darling, and fare
Before Lers had finished if the a,fsIs, first few
lines, she hurried to her room, and locking
the door, threw herself on the bed in q
passion Of sobs and tears.
"Oh, Raymond. Raymond It is you /
love. I did not know it until now. Hove
you, and have lost you"
Springing to her feet. she paced up and
down the room. What should she doY
Perhaps, after all, it was not too late, If
she could only see him; but no! A letter!
Why not write letter and send it to his
house by one Of her brothers?
It was good idea, and she acted upon
it. The note was soon written, and calling
her brother. she said:
"Run, Berthe, and take this, as quickly as
you can, to Raymond. Hurry, that's a
dear boy"
And Bertie did hurry. He ran all the
way, as fast as his little fat legs would
carry him through the snow, and he met
Raymond Kingsley just as he was starting
for the depot.
When he looked up and saw BERTHE
Grantley flying down the street toward
him, his first thought was that something
had happened to Lera. He sprang forward
to meet him, and his voice trembled as he
said:
"Bertte, in Heavens namel what has
happened? Tell me, quickly"
But poor BERTHE could not speak, for the
simple reason that he was all out Of breath,
so he handed Raymond the letter and be-
gan stamping the snow off his boots.
Only few words. but they made Ray.
m01d Kingsley the happiest man in the
world.
DEAREST RAYMOND: You were mistaken; It
is you love. and II you go away shall die.
LERA.
Il will return with you, Berthe, my boy, -
he said. And he started with strides down
the: street, and BERTHE trudging along by his
side.
Lera met them at the door, and throwing
her arms around Raymond's neck, gave
him, not only one, but dozen kisses un-
asked, as she whispered:
"How could tell should love thee to-day.
Whom that day held not dear?
i How could I know should love thee away,
When did not lovo thee near2'
@Mamma. when will you light the Christ
mas tree? We are SO tired waiting"
"Just as soon as papa comes, Ray"
The voice is sweet, low, and strangely
familiar. Yes, we are not mistaken. It is
Lera.
And as the door opens to admit the hus-
band and father, We recognize Raymond
Kingsley.
It is Christmas eve, and the world with
out is wrapped in a misty shroud Of snow,
bright, sparkling and clear. Within all is
happiness and love.
Three beautiful children scamper across
the bright carpet as their father enters, and
the youngest, a bright little boy with his
his mothers dark eyes and sweet laugh
ing face, says:
'oh, papa, wants to see We Trismas
tree."
$50 you shall, my boy; SO you shall.
Mamma must hurry and light it, before we
grow tired waiting"
An tan us see mamma light We title can
dies on We tree, papa!" exclaimed Ray. the
eldest, in great excitement.
Raymond Kingsley slipped his arm low
ingly around his wife and kissed her ere
he replied:
ayes, my darlings, we will all watch
mamma while she lights the Christmas tree;
and may we have many happy Christmas
together in the years to come"